Automatic gas-analyzer



S. 8. WEEKS.

AUTOMATIC. GAS ANALYZER.

1,345,047. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 27, I919. 29

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

jiiz'rigyj War/1s INVENTOR Q/ ZZM QW ATTORNEY S. 8. WEEKS.

' AUTOMATIC GAS ANALYZER.

0 2. 9 1T 9 m 28 mm H w m m a P on M u N M D E H N 0 n A W H P A 1' SURCE ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIRLEY s. WEEKS, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC Gas-ANALYZER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHIRLEY S; WEEKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and- State of California,have invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in AutomaticGas-Analyzers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic. gas analyzers ofthe type in which at predetermined intervals agaseous mixture is held inaclosed chamber, the gas which it is desired to determineabsorbedbysuitable means and the resultant reduction" of pressure indicated, orrecorded as a percenta e of the original inclosed volume.

The present invention has more particularly to do with the apparatus forcollecting and tightly inclosing a sample of mixed provide an automaticapparatus for performing the functions above outlined which will bereliable in operation and which will give results having a high degreeof accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the apparatus byutilizing a piston for separating the absorbent solution from the gasesduring the period in which fresh gases are being taken into theapparatus, and to further utilize the same piston for forcing theinclosed volume of gas into contact with the absorbent solution withoutthe usual losses due to end clearances and leakage past the piston. Inmy device the solution, piston and gases are tightly held in one chamberand hence no losses occur in transferrlng the gas from the measuringchamber into contact with the absorbent solution. V

Another object of the invention is to construct and operate the pistonso that move-' ment thereof conveys the absorbent solution 'ito contactwith the gas, but the absorbent solution will not by such movement beconveyed to the Walls of the inclosing chamber, thereby preventingabsorptlon prior to the time the required volume is lnclosed.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11113 29 192(1 Applicationfiled January 27, 1919. Serial No. 273,433.

A further object of the inventionis to so arrange the piston andassociated mechanismthat the amount of residual gas retained on theopposite side of the piston during the measuring and absorbing periodsrespectively will be a minimum and always of the same amount. Thisenables the recording or indicating instrument to be cali brated tocompensate for the slight errors residual amount of gas. s I

' A still further object of the invention is to utilize a fan or similarmechanical means for supplying the gaseous mixture to the device, makingit practical to displace a large volume of gas. supply of gas directlyfrom thesource thereof for each analysis regardless of the lengthwhichwould otherwise be introduced by the of pipe connecting thedeviceto the source of Igas 11 general 1 aim to provide a device ofthecharacter set forth which is mechanically simple in construction butwhich is accurate in operation, and which will continuously atperiodical-intervals perform the cycle of operations necessary to determine the percentage of the desired constitu ent of thegaseous mixture.

With these and other objects' in the invention consists of certain novelfeatures of construction, combinations andarrangements or partshereinafter described andjmore specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims; it being understood that changes in form, proportion, size andminor details of'construction within the scope of the claims may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of. the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

This assures a fresh view,

References being had to the drawings" forming apart of thespecification:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation'of my improved analyzing device.:1

Fig. 2 is a View in plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in sectionthrough. the solution container,- the measuring chamber and the valvemechanism. i a

Referring to corresponding parts by the same numerals'of-reference,ldenotes a base plate, having a bracket 2 by which it may be attached toa wall orother supporting; Or if the device is for portable surface.

use, feet'may be provided for'standing it on a horizontal surface.

Attached to the underside of. plate 1 is the air tight solutioncontainer denoted by 3 which consists of the cylindrical vessel .4having a removable cover plate 5. Extending upward from the cover plateis a tubular upright 6 which is closed at its upper end and which passesthrough a hole 7 in the with an opening in, hub 14, is arrangedcoaxially with the container and extends a short distance into thetubular portion 6.

v Slidably mounted on the lower end of the rod 15 is a sleeve 16 towhich is attached a spider 18 which carries an agitator 17. The hub ofthis spider is so positioned that it is engaged by the end of arm 12.Above sleeve 16 is a long perforated sleeve which is slidable on theguide bar 15. This sleeve has a float 20 attached to its upper end and asmaller float 21 to its lower end. The floats are thus held in spacedrelation by the sleeve and stretched between their adjacent faces isaplurality of chains 22 which have an open type link. The upper float 20is con centric with the bore of upright 6 but of smaller. diameter andhas attached to its upper end a piston 23 which divides the space in theupper end of the upright into two chambers.

Thefioat 20 has an opening 25 extending longitudinally tlierethrough,the upper end of which communicates with an opening in thepiston andwhich forms a seat for the ball plug from which extends a small tube 29,

thebore of which serves as aguide for the stem 30 which extends fromtheball 27. A very light spring 28 is interposed between the plug and theball and holds the latter on its seat. Extending from opening 25 to theannular space around float 20, is apassageway 26 and extending theentire length of the interior Wall of the upright 61s a small groove26'.

On the upright 6 are lugs 31, 32 and 33 all of which have openingscommunicating with the interior of this upright. To the first of thelugs is attached an indicating or recording vacuum gage (not shown). AsI deal with a volume of gas in an inclosed chamber the removal of one ofits constituentswill cause a reduction of'pressure and I calibrate mygages s0 that this reduction of pressure is read as a percentage of theoriginal volume of the sample of gas.

To the lugs 32 and 33 are attached valve casings 34 and 35 respectively,each of which is provided with a bore that communicates with theinterior of upright 6; Casing 34 has a side'branch 36,,whi-le casing 35has two adj acent branches 37 and 38 and a third side branch 39 spacedsomewhat farther away. The side outlet 39 is connected with 36 through agas tight member 40, which has an interior cavity of comparatively largevolume. Within the bore of casing 34 is a tight fitting piston 42 and inthreaded engagement with the outer end ofthe casing is" a sleeve 41. Thevalve stem 43 on which the piston is attached'extends through the closedend of sleeve 41 and within the latter v is provided with an abutment44. A spring 45 is interposed between this abutment and the end of thesleeve, tending thus to force the piston to its closed position;

Likewise in threaded engagement with the outer end of valve casing 35 isa similar sleeve 46 and extending therethrough into the bore ofthecasing is a rod 47 This rod hasa spring 48 which tends to move the redtoward the upright and on this red aremounted two pistons 50 and 51which are spacedat such a distance as to-control the flow of gas throughthe side branches of this valve in the manner hereinafter described.Sleeve 46 has asmall opening 35 which when the valve is closed placesthe interior of connection 40 in communication with the atmosphere.

It will be noted that the ends of the valve casings which enter thesupporting lugs are provided with orifices 52 and' 52 which are smallerthan the, bores of the casings thereby forming shoulders 53-. Pistons 42and 51 have the valve stem extending through them an 'amount'equalto'the' length of theseorifices which have a diameter only slightlylarger than the ends of the valve stem. The pistonsthemselves are facedas shown at 54 with material which will make a tight joint when incontact with the shoulders 53.

The driving mechanism for the valves and arm 12 comprises a motor 60which is connected. to a shaft 61 through a flexible c'ou pling 62. Thisshaft is revolubly mounted in journals 63 between which a threaded .worm64 is attached to the shaft.

The latterextends to the opposite side of the plate where it drives thefan or air pump 65.

i is

=Above shaft 61 and at right angles thercto is another shaft 66 which isrevolubly mounted in journals 6'? and has'attached thereto a worm wheel71 and a toothed spur p1n1on 68. The former is engaged by the worm 64while the latter meshes with a toothed gear 69 attached to the shaft70-This'shaft is revolubly mounted in journals 72 and has attached thereoncams 73, 74, and? 5. r

.Cam 73 isengaged by a roller 80 on arm" 76, one end of which ispivotally mounted as at 77, while the other end is ,pivotally attachedto a connecting link 7 8, the lower end of which is in turn connected tothe arm 79 on shaft 10. Cam 74 reciprocated a rod 81 which is slidablymounted in a bracket 82 and has its direction of movement parallel tothe valve rod 47, to which it is connected by an arm 88. Cam 75reciprocates a rod 84 which is parallel to valve rod 13 and connectedthereto by the arm 85. Rod 8-1 is slidably mounted in bearings 86, andas here illustrated this rod is provided with a forked head 87 having apivotally mounted roller 88. A spring 89 is interposed between the backof this head and the adjacent bearing to hold the roller in contact withthe associated cam. In like manner rod 81 has a forked head 93containing a roller 94 for contact with the cam/74L and this roller isurged toward the cam by a spring 95.

The intake opening of the fanis connected to the side branch 38 by meansof a tube 90, while from branch 37 a tube 91 extends to the source fromwhich the sample of gas for analysis is to be obtained. The top plate 5is provided with a filling tube 92 which is so arranged that by fillingto a given mark, the solution within the upright portion 6 will beat apredetermined level.

The operation is as follows:

The motor 6 0 continuously rotates the shaft 61 and thus drives thefan65 at high speed and by means of. the various gears drives the shaftat a much slower speed. In the drawings, the apparatus is illustratedwith all valves open, and in this condition the suction produced by thefan 65 draws through the tube 91 which, is connected to the source ofgas, through the side branch 37, the-orifice 52 into the chamber abovethe plunger 20. From this cavity the gas passes through the orifice 52,valve casing 3 1-, through the sideoutlet 36, the gas tight member 4C0,the side branch 39, through the casing 35 between pistons 50 and 51' andthen through the side branch 38 and hose 90 to the intake of the fan.Thus during the time the valves are so positioned, a continuous streamof gas is being drawn through the chamber above the plunger. Groove'26is provided so that there is no danger-10f the piston sticking in itsupward position and so that no pressure is accumulate-d below the pistonwhen it passes below opening 52. The lateral passageway 26 is providedfor the same purpose in respect to the space in opening 25.

After a predetermined interval cam 74 permits the springs 95 and 48 tomove the rods 4-7 and 81 to the right as viewed in Fig. This closes theorifice 52, connects the passageway in the sidebranch 39 with theatmosphere, closes passage in branch 39 from that in 3-8, and connectsthe passageways of side branches 37 and 38 with each There is anappreciable interval between the closing of orifice 52 and the closingof the passageway in branch 36 by piston 42, the

object of which'is to allow the gas in the chamber above the piston tocome to atmospheric pressure as otherwise it would be at slightly lesspressure due to the fan suction in drawing the gas through theapparatus. In order to secure uniform results it is necessary that thegas analyzed be brought to atmospheric pressure which is accomplished bythe delayed closing of valve 34. After the orifice 52" is closed'thepassageway in branch 36 remains unclosed by piston 42 a sufiicientlength of time that atmospheric pressure entering through the hole 35'into connection 40 may force the gas within the latter into themeasuring chamber, bringing the pressure therein to that of theatmosphere. The volume of 10 is so large in comparison with the amountof gas necessaryto bring the inclosed gas to atmospheric pressure thatthere is no danger of air being forced into the measuring chain her.fter the piston 42 has closed the orifice 52, cam 73 moves the arm 76 ina downward direction, thereby raising the 12 within the container 1. Themovement of this aim raises the spider 1S and the attached member 17 andthe upper end of sleeve 16 contacts with the bottom of sleeve 1),thereby raising this sleeve and the floats on the top and] bottomthereof. As the piston 23is raised the gas which is above the samepasses through the valve 27 and groove 26 into the cavity below thepiston and float. This movement of the plunger continues until the fiatupper surface of the piston is in contact with the top wallet theupright por tion 6, and substantially all the is in the space below thesaid plunger. This upward,

the absorption of the given constituent of gas is indicated by asuitable gage or meter attached to the opening of this lug.

The solution After an interval sufficient to permit the completeabsorption of the given gaseous element, the cams are arranged to movetheir respective contact members in the'opposite direction and thus toopen the valves 34, 35 and to move down arm 12.

It will be noted that the spider 18 is not attached to the arm 12 andthat sleeve 19 is not attached to sleeve 16. Thus these parts are freeto move downwardly inde pendent of the movement of the arm. The weight,of the piston, floats and attached part is such that the piston alwaysfloats at a given distance above the solution, and therefore the gastrapped beneath the piston isof the same volume each operation. Thespace between the upper end of the sleeve 16 and the lower end of sleeve19 allows for a drop in the level of the solution without affecting therelation of the .float with re spect to the solution level.

The solution is agitated by the up and down movements of the member 17so that a uniform strength is maintained. The normal solution level isas indicated.

It will be understood that no exact solution level or position for theplunger is re 'quired as the reduction in pressure isindependent of thevolume of gas acted upon.

The shape of float 20 is such that capillary attraction will not drawthe solution up between the piston and walls of the cylinder. This keepsthe walls of the measuring chamber dry and hence the gas does not comeinto contact with the absorbing chemical before the various valves areclosed, and the piston moves upwardly. At the same time the shape of thefloat is such that a minimum clearance volume is provided below and thisis independent of the level of the solution, due to the fact that theplungers and associated parts float therein.

I claim as new and wish to-cover by Letters Patent v V 1. A gas analyzercomprising a vessel for holding an absorbent material, said vessel'having a chamber above said material for inclosing a gaseous mixture, apiston normally separating the contents of said chamber from saidmaterial, means within said vessel foroperatin said piston, and bypassmeans for passing the contents of said chamber to the opposite side ofsaid piston for contact with said absorbent material.

2. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel for holding an absorbent material,said vessel having a chamber adjacent to said material for holding agaseous mixture, a floating piston normally separating the contents ofsaid chamber from said absorbent material, means below the surface ofsaid solution for moving said piston and normally disconnectedtherefrom,and bypass means for passing the contents of said chamber to theopposite side of said piston.

3. A gas analyzercomprising a vessel for an absorbent solution,a'chamber above said solution for inclosing a gaseous mixture, a pistonin said chamber normally separating the contents thereof from saidsolution, means extending through .said solution for moving saidpiston'through said chamber, and bypass means to permit the contents ofsaid chamber to flow to the opposite side of said piston for contactwith said solution. 4. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel, an absorbentsolution held therein, a tubular portion on said vessel, having acavityfor inclosing a gaseousmixture, a piston, means passing through saidsolution for moving said piston longitudinally of said cavity, andbypass means to permit the passage of said mixture from one side of thepiston to the other. 7

5. A gas analyzer comprising a closed vessel, an absorbent solutiontherein, atubular portion on said vessel forming a chamber for inclosingagaseous mixture, a piston movable longitudinally of said chamber,bypass means to permit the passage of the gaseous mixture past saidpiston, said tubular portionhaving orifices to permit aflow. of gasthrough said chamber, and valve means for closing said orifices andentirely filling the portion thereof which communicates with saidchamber. r I

6. A gas analyzer comprising a tubular vessel, anabsorbent solution insaid vessel, said vessel having a chamber abovesaid solution for holdinggas, a floating piston movable longitudinally of said chamber andnormally separating the gas fromsaid solu- 7 tion, valve means to permitthe passage of' the gas past said piston, said vessel having an orificeentering said chamber and connected to a sourceof gas and having an exitorifice, and valve means for closing said orifices, the outer end ofsaid'valve means forming substantially a continuation of the innersurface of saidchamber. 1 7

7. A gas analyzer comprising a tubular vessel, an absorbent solution insaid vessel, said vessel having achamber above said solution for holdinggas, a pistonIbuoyantly carried by said solution and movablelongitudinally of said chamber andnormally separating the gas from saidsolution, valvc means to-permit the passage of the gas past said piston,said vessel having an orifice entering said chamber and connectedto a,source of gas and having an exit orifice, means for causing a flow ofgas through said orifices and said chamber, and means for closing saidorifices, which substantially forms a" continuation of the inner surfaceof'said cham-- ber.

8. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a closed chamber in the topthereof, an

absorbent solution in said vessel, 'a piston.

said solution, means normally disconnected from said piston for movingit upwardly through said chamber, a by-pass around said piston, saidvessel having intake and exit orifices opening into said chamber, meansfor drawing a stream of gas through said orifices and valve means forclosing said orifices flush with the surface of said chamber.

9. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas chamber, an absorbentsolution in said vessel, piston buoyantly carried by said solution andmovable through said chamber, and means within said vessel and normallydisconnected from said piston for moving it through said gas chamber.

- 10. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel, an absorbent solution heldtherein, said vessel having a chamber adjacent said solution,a pistonnormally separating said chamber from said solution, means whereby saidpistonis held at a predetermined distance above said solution, means fordrawinga stream of gas through said chamber, valve means for holding aquantity of said gas in saidchamher at atmospheric pressure, and meansfor by-passing said gas past said piston to contact with said solution.i I

11. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas inclosingchamber, valve casings having bore communicating with said chamber, oneof said casings having two adjacent side branches having passageways forcommunication with a source of gas and means for moving the gasrespectively, a third side branch having a passageway, said casinghaving also an opening communicating with the atmosphere, a valve rodmovable longitudinally of said casing, pistons on said rod adapted toclose the said bore from said chamber, to place said adjacentpassageways in communication and said third side branch in communicationwith the atmosphere, a side branch on the other of said casings having apassageway in communication with the passageway of said third sidebranch and a piston valve for closing the bore of said other casingafter the valve 7 of said first mentioned casing has operated.

12. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a gas chamber therein, anabsorbent solution below said chamber, a piston fitting within saidchamber and adapted to pass the contents of said chamber from one sideof the piston to the other side, buoyant means for maintaining saidpiston out of contact with said solution, and means below the surface ofsaid solution for operating said piston.

13. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a closed chamber, anabsorbent solution, means for drawing a continuous stream of gas fromthe source thereof through said chamber, said chamber having intake andexit openings, valve means for closing said openings flush with theinterior surface of said chamber and inclosing a quantity of gas fromsaid stream at atmospheric pressure and by-passing said stream duringthe time said gas. is inclose d, a piston movable longitudinallyof'said' chamber, means to permit the flow of gas past said piston, andsolution carrying devices on the underside of said piston for bringingsaid solution mtoc'ongas through said orifices, or for closing the sameand by-passing the said stream, and

means carried by said piston for carrying 50- g lution into saidchamber. 1, 15. In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having a chamber,an absorbent solution in said vessel, a piston movable longitudinally ofsaid chamber, buoyant means carriedby said piston to support theunderside there'- of above saidsolution, means to permit the gas, valvemeans for-directing said stream of passage. of gas from one side of saidpiston to the opposite side, said vessel having intake and exit orificesopening into said 1 chamber, a fan adapted to move a continu ous streamof gas, valve means for by-passing said stream of gas, closingsaidintake orifice and placing said exit orifice in cominunication with abody of gas at atmospheric pressure, valve means for closing sald exitorlfice, means for moving said plston upwardly through said chamberwhlle said orifices are closed, and means for carrying solution intocontact with the contents of said chamber when said piston movesupwardly.

16. Ina gas analyzing device comprising a vessel, absorbent solutionpartly filling said vessel to form a chamber thereabove, a piston insaid chamber with its under surfacebuoyantly held at a predetermineddistance above said solution, means for per mitting the passage of gaspast said piston, means for inclosing a quantity of gas in said chamber.at atmospheric pressure, means passing through said solution forraising said piston so as to cause the contents of said chamber to passto the underside thereof, and means carried by said pis ton for raisinga'quantity of the solution into contact with the gas under said piston.

17..In a device for analyzing gas comher, a piston fitting within saidchamber piston to float above said solution, and

means'for moving said piston through said chamber.

18K111 a device for analyzing gas comprising a. vessel for, holding anabsorbent solutlon and having a closed chamber above said solution. forholding the gas, a piston movable longitudinally of said chamber,buoyant'means carried by said piston for holding the underside thereofabove said solution, by-pass means for permitting the transfer of thecontents of said'chamber from one side of said piston to the oppositeside, means or movingsaid piston, and means carried by said piston forcarrying solution into contact with the gas piston is moved upwardly. VV r 1.9.; In a gas analyzer comprising a vessel having'a chamber anabsorbent solution in said vessel, a piston movable longitudinally ofsaid'chamber, buoyant means carried by said piston to support theunderside thereof abovesaid solution, means to permit the passage of gasfrom one'side of said piston to the opposite side, orifices opening intosaid'chamber, afan adapted to move-a continuous stream of gas, valvemeans for bypassing said stream of gas, closing said inas said takeorifice and placing said exit orifice in communication with a body'ofgas at atmospheric pressure, and means for closing said exit orifice.

20. A gas analyzer comprising a vessel,v

having HJI'ZLbSOI'PlZlOIl chamber above said solution, means forinclosing a quantity of gas in said chamber, a plston normallyseparating said inclosed gas from said solution, and means formaintaining said piston when in its lower position at an invariabledistance above the surface of said solution.

22. A gas analyzer comprising atubular vessel havinga'gas absorptionchamber, said chamber having intake'and exit orifices communicatingtherewith,valve means for closing said orifices substantially flush withthe surface of said chamber to inclose a quantity of gas and means forbringing gas into .contact with an absorbent solution. 7 i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature;

SHIRLEY S. WEEKS.

